Windows Updates drama (8.1)

Simon · Mar 01, 2014, 20:36:16

I am being notified by my Windows 8.1 laptop that 2 important updates are pending, and ready to be installed. However, when I click to install them, I am then presented with the screen saying that the updates are 'Not needed', and that everything is up to date. If I click again to check for updates, the 2 'important' updates appear again, and the whole process circulates. If I check the Installed Updates list, it says that the last updates were installed on 13/02/14. What gives?

The pending updates are:

Security Update for Internet Explorer Flash Player for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB2934802)
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool for Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows Server 2012, 2012 R2 x64 Edition - February 2014 (KB890830)

Technical Ben · Mar 01, 2014, 20:37:54

Are there 2 places to update now? Desktop and Metro? Else it's a buggy update, that's happened on most versions of Windows I think, it does an update and does not realize/flag it.

Simon · Mar 01, 2014, 20:40:49

As far as I am aware, Windows Updates is Windows Updates, whether you access it via Metro or Desktop. I just added the two pending updates to my post above, in case you missed it.

Simon · Mar 01, 2014, 21:10:48

Well, something had obviously messed with Windows Updates. I found a repair tool in the Maintenance section of Action Center, ran it, got the result below, and now the updates are installing.

J!ll · Mar 07, 2014, 16:16:25

I just let mine get on with it, never had any problems

Simon · Mar 07, 2014, 16:23:40

Usually, so do I, but mine had stopped getting on with it.

J!ll · Mar 07, 2014, 16:44:56

Then the automatic maintenace has gone on strike then!

Technical Ben · Mar 12, 2014, 16:42:43

Your doing well. Here's a good question. How do I even GET 8.1?

Glenn · Mar 12, 2014, 16:54:26

Log on to the Microsoft store and it should be available.

J!ll · Mar 12, 2014, 16:55:48

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8

Technical Ben · Mar 12, 2014, 17:23:32

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 12, 2014, 16:54:26
Log on to the Microsoft store and it should be available.

Have you seen the layout of the store? I get better product placement, search results, technical knowledge and peace and quiet at Camden Market (Or the old Geocities sites)!

http://cultureandcommunication.org/deadmedia/index.php/File:Twitter_geocities.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSR5DbiYtnk

(PS, no image for searching "update" or "8.1" but the results are similar. Still prefer gouging my eyes out to Windows 8... but oh well, needs must.

Ok, being dyslexic, finding the colours OTT (very disorientating) and finding the information on display both useless and providing information overload, I conclude Windows 8 is beyond my concern. I might install Vista at this rate.

This is from the official Windows instructions.
"In the Store, tap or click the Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 update"

THERE ARE 500,000 APPS IN THE STORE AND 1000 RESULTS IF I SEARCH "UPDATE/WIN 8.1" BY NAME!!!

Add to that that "updates" does on occasion magically appear in the store hovering around like some fairy that is difficult to catch should you be actually looking for it. When clicked it updates all my APPS like solitaire. Wonderful. Can I update windows though Microsoft? Please?

Yes, this is what Windows 8 does to me, makes me rant and resort to all caps on the internet.

J!ll · Mar 12, 2014, 17:32:28

There is on my link, it will take you straight to it.

Glenn · Mar 12, 2014, 17:34:38

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/update-from-windows-8-tutorial

Technical Ben · Mar 12, 2014, 17:43:27

Quote from: Glenn on Mar 12, 2014, 17:34:38
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/update-from-windows-8-tutorial

Ahem.

QuoteIn the Store, tap or click the Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 update. if you don't see the update on the Store home screen, see Why can't I find the update in the Store?

That is both what was posted before, and what I posted cannot be done. I click the store, it shows me every app ever created. So where or what do I click to update? I'm guessing it needs a normal update before I can see the other update? If they put it all in one place it would be a lot easier.

Ok, not it's turned my Windows style pink. I don't know weather to laugh or cry.

J!ll · Mar 12, 2014, 17:50:30

I will have to have another look and see what I can find to help you.

Technical Ben · Mar 12, 2014, 17:59:47

That's ok. It's not anything wrong with what you've sent me to. It's the fact that Microsoft think it's really clever to hide, swap change and move all the icons. I don't mean between OSs. I can cope with that. I play hundreds of games, use phones and tabs etc. All of which have different menus, options and screens. But none actually move them and hide them during use like Windows 8 does. They must have had some special ideas when they decided to do that.

Pop up menus from the corners, settings/menus appear to hover over the sidebar on the right, search searching what it wants not what you ask. Store with zero description or information, just name/icon/stars. Zero menu boarders so I have no idea where to click, if it's a button, if it's a slider... oh don't get me started on the new slider behavior...).

So I'm leaving the normal update on over night, and it should have added the button to the Store by the morning.

It's that or I use the command prompt from now on!

Ray · Mar 12, 2014, 18:05:17

Have you fully updated Windows 8? If you haven't you won't see the upgrade available.

J!ll · Mar 12, 2014, 18:31:17

I was more than happy with XP

J!ll · Mar 12, 2014, 18:32:26

Quote from: Technical Ben on Mar 12, 2014, 17:59:47
That's ok. It's not anything wrong with what you've sent me to. It's the fact that Microsoft think it's really clever to hide, swap change and move all the icons. I don't mean between OSs. I can cope with that. I play hundreds of games, use phones and tabs etc. All of which have different menus, options and screens. But none actually move them and hide them during use like Windows 8 does. They must have had some special ideas when they decided to do that.

Pop up menus from the corners, settings/menus appear to hover over the sidebar on the right, search searching what it wants not what you ask. Store with zero description or information, just name/icon/stars. Zero menu boarders so I have no idea where to click, if it's a button, if it's a slider... oh don't get me started on the new slider behavior...).

So I'm leaving the normal update on over night, and it should have added the button to the Store by the morning.

It's that or I use the command prompt from now on!

Ok will see tomorrow then, have a migraine coming on so nothing is make sense to me!

Technical Ben · Mar 12, 2014, 22:50:32

Quote from: Ray on Mar 12, 2014, 18:05:17
Have you fully updated Windows 8? If you haven't you won't see the upgrade available.

Now it shows it. Thanks. That was not made very clear on their site. Normally most companies, Microsoft included, show updates and/or grey them out and just say "please install others first" etc. I mean, there is no "update" button on the store, but there is in Control Panel. So normally, I would sequentially do updates, it's obvious SP3 is not shown until I have SP2 etc. But with zero buttons, information or details on the Store, but all the MS tutorials saying "go to the store", it's... um... Totally Metro all over.

PS, Thanks Jill. Hope the Migraine passes. They are horrible. I think my lack of sleep did not help my ability to figure out the MS instructions... that an the colours of the store would give me a migraine soon too! (I'm installing Start menu/classic ASAP!

)

Glenn · Mar 13, 2014, 07:13:30

Seems like it's covered in the tutorial link I posted, see the bold bit.

2. Prepare your PC

There are a few things you should do before you start installing.

Back up your files. Although your files and apps come with you when you update to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, it's a good idea to make sure that your files are backed up first by setting up File History.

Make sure you have enough free disk space. If you're currently running Windows 8, you need 3,000 MB of available space to install the 32-bit version of Windows 8.1, and 3,850 MB of available space to install the 64-bit version of Windows 8.1. On a Windows RT device, you need 2,250 MB of available disk space to install Windows RT 8.1. For more info, see Tips for freeing up drive space on your PC.

Plug in your laptop or tablet. It's important to keep your PC plugged in throughout the update process, because if you lose power before it's done, the update might not install properly.

Connect to the Internet. It's best to stay connected until the update is done. If you don't, you'll need to connect again to finish setting up later, and setup will take longer.

Get the latest critical and important updates. There are some updates you might need before you can install Windows 8.1. In most cases, the latest updates will be installed automatically using Windows Update. But if you don't have automatic updates turned on and you need to check for updates manually, or if you'd like to check to see when the latest updates were installed, you can do this from Windows Update. For more info, see Windows Update: Frequently asked questions.

Temporarily turn off your antivirus program. Some antivirus software might interfere with the installation. After you install Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, remember to turn your antivirus program back on.

J!ll · Mar 13, 2014, 11:53:02

Quote from: Technical Ben on Mar 12, 2014, 22:50:32
Now it shows it. Thanks. That was not made very clear on their site. Normally most companies, Microsoft included, show updates and/or grey them out and just say "please install others first" etc. I mean, there is no "update" button on the store, but there is in Control Panel. So normally, I would sequentially do updates, it's obvious SP3 is not shown until I have SP2 etc. But with zero buttons, information or details on the Store, but all the MS tutorials saying "go to the store", it's... um... Totally Metro all over.

PS, Thanks Jill. Hope the Migraine passes. They are horrible. I think my lack of sleep did not help my ability to figure out the MS instructions... that an the colours of the store would give me a migraine soon too! (I'm installing Start menu/classic ASAP! )

Yes thanks gone for now! Good luck and fingers crossed you are able to sort it out. I suppose I was lucky as this was a new laptop so I kept getting messages to install to 8.1 but chose to ignore it for a while.

pctech · Mar 13, 2014, 18:55:01

Sounds like a screw up in the local Windows update database which the automatic updates function compares with a remote one at MS HQ to determine whether any updates are missing.

Technical Ben · Mar 13, 2014, 20:59:20

Thanks. On it's way now. It did need an update to show the update. But it's not like it made that clear.

With XP, Vista and Windows 7 I literally download the Service Pack, keep it on a memory card etc and just use that when installing an OS. The service pack needs only the previous SP to install, no "get this update first" malarkey. This "new" and "great" way from MS to use the store is about as much use to me as a consumer as an American English spellcheck being provided in every UK device/PC/browser.

PS, the add insult to injury, I've just noticed the touchpad swiping activates the corner/side hotspots of metro etc. So I can't swipe from side to side to scroll as it activates buttons I don't want... Oh dear, who designed Metro anyhow?